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Norwegian parents avoid placing infants in prone sleeping positions but frequently share beds in hazardous ways
Silje Osberg1, Trine Giving Kalstad2,3, Arne Stray-Pedersen1,2
1Department of Forensic Sciences, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway.
Insights
Norwegian parents rarely place infants in the prone sleeping position. However, bed-sharing is common, even in high-risk situations like after smoking or drinking, or on sofas, indicating potential risks for sudden infant death syndrome.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Public Health
- Sleep Medicine
Background:
- Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) incidence has decreased in Norway due to campaigns against prone sleeping.
- Despite reductions, sleep-related infant deaths remain a concern, highlighting the need to assess current safe sleep practices.
- Understanding infant sleeping environments is crucial for preventing SIDS and other sleep-related deaths.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate current infant sleeping environments in Norway.
- To assess parental adherence to safe sleep recommendations.
- To identify potential risk factors for sleep-related infant deaths.
Main Methods:
- An online questionnaire was distributed to parents of infants up to 12 months old.
- The study period was from May to December 2018, with publicity through health centers and online platforms.
- Data from 4150 eligible participants were analyzed.
Main Results:
- Prone sleeping was rare (2.1% occasionally), with 29.7% placed on their side.
- Bed-sharing was prevalent, reported by 62.7% of parents, and associated with nocturnal breastfeeding, single parenthood, and multiple children.
- A significant proportion (72.6%) of parents with infants under six months reported high-risk behaviors, including bed-sharing after smoking or drinking, or co-sleeping on sofas.
Conclusions:
- While prone sleeping is uncommon in Norway, bed-sharing is widespread.
- High-risk bed-sharing practices, such as co-sleeping on sofas or after substance use, are concerning.
- Further interventions may be needed to address risky sleep environments and reduce SIDS risk.
Aim:
Campaigns to prevent prone sleeping and other modifiable risk factors have greatly reduced the incidence of sudden infant death syndrome in Norway. Sleep-related infant deaths still occur sporadically and may be preventable. We studied infants' sleeping environments and whether parents followed safe sleep recommendations.
Methods:
Parents with infants up to 12 months of age were invited to complete an online questionnaire from May to December 2018. It was publicised by health centres and on websites and social media.
Results:
We received 4886 responses and 4150 met the age criteria and were included. Just under two-thirds (62.7%) reported routine bed-sharing, and this practice was associated with increased nocturnal breastfeeding, single parents and having more than one child. A small number of infants under six months were occasionally placed prone when they were laid down to sleep (2.1%) and 29.7% were placed on their side. Nearly three-quarters (72.6%) of the 2330 parents with infants under six months of age reported previous high-risk behaviour, such as sleeping together on a sofa or bed-sharing after smoking or drinking.
Conclusion:
Norwegian parents rarely used prone sleeping positions for infants. However, bed-sharing was common, including high-risk scenarios such as smoking, alcohol use and sofas.
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